How to Look Up a TDI Windstorm Certificate (WPI-8 / WPI-8E Lookup Guide)

Windstorm certificates of compliance (WPI-8 and WPI-8E) are recorded by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). To verify one, look up the certificate through TDI's certificate search on tdi.texas.gov using the property address — or call TDI directly. Your insurance agent can also verify a property's windstorm coverage eligibility through TWIA.

Why Certificate Lookup Matters

A windstorm certificate is usually needed at exactly three moments, and all three tend to come with deadlines:

1. Buying or selling a coastal home. Buyers' insurers ask for proof the structure qualifies for windstorm coverage before binding a policy.
2. Insuring or re-insuring a property. TWIA windstorm and hail coverage generally requires a certificate of compliance for the structure.
3. After construction. Homeowners who completed a roof, addition, or remodel want proof the finished work counts.

Searching for the certificate yourself — before an insurer, buyer, or lender asks — turns a deadline crisis into a routine errand.

What You Need Before You Search

• The property address, exactly as it would appear on official records
• The county the property is in
• The certificate number, if you have it (a closing packet or prior insurance policy often contains it) — helpful but not required
• The approximate year of construction or the project, since certificates are tied to specific structures and projects

How to Look Up a Windstorm Certificate

1. Go to TDI's website (tdi.texas.gov) and use their Certificate of Compliance search tool.
2. Search by the property address and county. Certificate records are organized by structure, so the address matters more than the owner's name.
3. If nothing appears, call TDI. Their staff can search records that a public lookup may not surface and can explain what is on file.
4. Ask your insurance agent. Agents verify windstorm eligibility with TWIA routinely and can often confirm a certificate's status on file faster than a manual search.

A quick distinction worth knowing: looking up a certificate is different from looking up an appointed windstorm inspector. The certificate is the issued compliance document; the inspector is the person authorized to inspect. Insurers care about the first one.

What If No Certificate Is Found?

No certificate on file does not mean the property is doomed — it means one of these is true:

• The work was done but never certified. Common with older roofs and additions. If the construction is completed, the pathway is a WPI-8E post-construction inspection: a licensed professional engineer evaluates the finished structure and, if it complies, submits for the certificate.
• The work is still ongoing. Then the standard WPI-8 certification process applies — inspections happen at each construction stage, before work is covered.
• The property is outside a designated catastrophe area. Certificate requirements apply in TDI designated catastrophe areas; eligibility must be verified for the specific property before making any coverage claims. Check with TDI or your insurer.

The WPI-8E path is the one most sellers end up needing at closing — it exists precisely for finished work that was never certified along the way. Our WPI-8 vs. WPI-8E guide explains the difference in plain terms.

Certificate Lookup FAQ for Home Sales

If you are selling, run the lookup before you list. A missing certificate discovered during option period puts your closing date at risk; the same discovery a month earlier is a routine engineering appointment. Most WPI-8E evaluations and rush timelines can be found in our pricing guide.

FAQs

Is a WPI-8 and a Certificate of Compliance the same thing? In practice, yes — the WPI-8 is TDI's Certificate of Compliance for ongoing construction. The WPI-8E is the equivalent for completed construction.

How do I replace a lost certificate? TDI keeps certificate records — the lookup above is the fastest way to retrieve proof of an existing certificate. If you have the certificate number from a closing packet, include it in your search.

Does every coastal property need a certificate? Certificates apply to structures in TDI designated catastrophe areas, and insurers generally require them for windstorm and hail coverage. Because designated areas affect eligibility, verify the specific property with TDI or your insurer.

How long does a WPI-8E evaluation take if no certificate exists? The engineering evaluation is scheduled in days, with rush service available — see how long a windstorm certification takes.

Get Help

If a lookup came up empty — or you want a certificate in place before a buyer, lender, or insurer asks — call us. We handle WPI-8 and WPI-8E certifications across 37 Texas coastal cities, with rush service and 2-hour response to quote requests during business hours.

Texas Windstorm Engineers — TDI windstorm certification inspections. TX License #117419.